Fossil find offers new evidence of dinosaur timeline

A fossil found near Hughenden, in northern central Queensland, almost 90 years ago, has provided new evidence of the existence of a prehistoric creature called the dicynodont.

Archaeologists based at the Queensland Museum came across the fossil in museum stores recently and say it proves the mammal-like reptile lived for more than 100 million years longer than previously thought.

Monash University research fellow Dr Susan Turner says the find will change the evolutionary timeline for the dicynodont.

"The thing that's important is that it seems we have another find like the famous living fossil called the coelacanth," she said.

"We have a group of animals that lasted a long, long time and managed to survive in spite of what was going on and the evolution of the dinosaurs."

Flinders Shire mayor Brendan Macnamara says the discovery is great exposure for the area.

"We're currently just upgrading our Flinders Discovery Centre in Hughenden so we have more display area," he said.

"We have area there so we can explain the find and any examples that we can get of it and show the locals and also tourists travelling through."